Ep 1. Newman's Piggyback Ride

Would I Lie To You? is a British comedy panel game show where contestants tell either true or false personal stories, and their opponents have to guess whether they are lying or telling the truth. Hosted by Rob Brydon, the show is known for its hilariously absurd stories, quick wit, and lively banter between the guests.

In the first season's premiere episode, titled "Newman's Piggyback Ride," contestants David Mitchell, Lee Mack, Fern Britton, and Rhod Gilbert are set to take the comedy stage by storm. In typical fashion, the show kicks off with Brydon introducing the two teams, with Mitchell and Britton on one side and Mack and Gilbert on the other.

The game begins with each contestant taking turns telling a personal story, while the opposing team must guess whether the story is true or false. The first round has the contestants regaling tales about bizarre encounters with celebrities.

David Mitchell starts things off with a story about meeting Prince Philip at a charity event. Mitchell claims that the Prince walked up to him and asked if he had ever been on a carriage ride before. Mitchell says he replied "no," at which point the Prince replied that he "should try it sometime" before walking away. Mack and Gilbert both believe Mitchell's story to be true, while Britton expresses her doubts.

Next up, Fern Britton tells a story about meeting Hillary Clinton in America. Britton claims that the former First Lady mistook her for a journalist and gave her a lengthy interview about her political career. Mack and Gilbert are the only ones to believe Britton's story, while Mitchell is skeptical.

Lee Mack's story is about his encounter with Oasis's Noel Gallagher. Mack claims he saw Gallagher stumbling out of a pub in Manchester, and that he offered to give him a piggyback ride because he was too drunk to walk. Mack says Gallagher accepted the offer, and he proceeded to piggyback him all the way to his hotel. Mitchell and Britton are the only ones who believe Mack's story, while Gilbert thinks it's a lie.

Finally, Rhod Gilbert tells a story about meeting Arnold Schwarzenegger in New York City. Gilbert claims that while he was walking down the street, Schwarzenegger pulled up in a car and asked him for directions to the Lincoln Tunnel. Gilbert claims that he gave Schwarzenegger detailed directions, which the actor then proceeded to get lost following. Mitchell believes Gilbert's story, while Britton and Mack think it's a lie.

The second round of the game has the contestants telling stories about their childhood. Here, David Mitchell tells a hilarious story about his parents tricking him into thinking he was psychic. Fern Britton shares an amusing story about her brother's wedding and the trouble her family encountered while trying to get a photo with the groom. Lee Mack recounts an embarrassing story about his time in school where he accidentally set off a fire extinguisher. Finally, Rhod Gilbert tells a story about getting stuck in a tree.

The show's third round is called "This Is My…," where each of the contestants presents an object to the opposing team and tells them what it is. The opposing team must then guess whether or not the object truly belongs to the contestant. Hilarity ensues as the contestants present unusual items such as a bottle of urine, a signed copy of Michael Bolton's autobiography, and a prosthetic leg.

In the end, the team with the most points wins the game. However, the points system is notoriously arbitrary on this show, often leading to hilarious outcomes. The final round sees the contestants making one last ditch effort to earn points by convincing the opposing team to guess right or wrong about their final story.

The premiere episode of season one of "Would I Lie To You?" is a hilarious showcase of the guests' quick wit and comedic talents. The show's premise is simple, but the laughs come thick and fast as the contestants try to bamboozle their opponents with absurd stories. Fans of British comedy and panel shows will not be disappointed.